Lessons Learned: Moving Forward in 5 Words or Less

Patricia J. Brown, known as “MsEdtechie,” is an equity-minded, innovative educator with a passionate commitment to student growth and the learning experience through effective technology integration. Brown is a technology specialist in St. Louis, Missouri, and the owner of MsEdtechie Consultants LLC. She’s also a member of the ISTE Board of Directors and the Smithsonian Institution STEM Advisory Committee. As a 19-year veteran educator, she helps break down traditional classroom walls by creating a culture that fosters the 4 C’s and authentic learning. She’s passionate about closing the digital equity divide through access and opportunity, and sharing practical techniques to create meaningful technology interactions and make global connections. Among her many accolades, she was selected as a National School Board Association’s 20 to Watch in EdTech, an Apple Distinguished Educator, Google for Education Certified Innovator & Trainer, a PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator for Missouri, and, in 2006, she was honored as Teacher of The Year for the St. Louis Public Schools. She has served on the advisory panel for ISTE’s member magazine, Empowered Learner, and currently serves as an ISTE Digital Equity PLN co-chair, and a Code.org facilitator. Her work has been featured in several edtech publications, including Tech & Learning Magazine, Scholastic Administrator Magazine, Edtech Magazine and Entrsekt, and she has been a monthly columnist for many other magazines and journals. Brown is a keynote speaker and presenter, and was a featured TED Masterclass speaker at the ISTE 18.

Rand Hansen, Ed.D., is the acting dean of the School of Arts and Science at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and president of the ISTE Board of Directors. As acting dean, he supports the planning and execution of all academic and administrative matters pertinent to the successful operation of the School of Arts and Science; collaborates on developing and implementing a strategic plan; champions program quality; and administers academic policies and processes at the school level. He was previously a program director for learning design and technology, lead designer for the instructional design and technology micro-master’s program and acting vice-dean of the Education Department at UMGC. Hansen began his career as an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher and a district technology coordinator for a large urban school district in Maryland. He has also worked at Discovery Education, Johns Hopkins University and National Louis University. He holds a master’s degree in instructional systems design from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a doctorate in educational technology from Pepperdine University. In 2015, he was named to the Center for Digital Education’s Top 30 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers list. In 2016, he earned the ISTE Making IT Happen award.

Sophia Mendoza is a proud alumni of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation’s second largest school district, where she’s served in multiple capacities, including as a bilingual teacher, coordinator, assistant principal and principal. She currently serves as director of the district’s Instructional Technology Initiative (ITI), overseeing the adoption of the ISTE Standards and implementation of computer science education and digital citizenship programs across LA Unified’s 1,300 schools. Mendoza has led instructional technology efforts districtwide for five years and head’s up the development of professional learning opportunities that leverage digital tools and model innovative instructional practices to create a personalized learning experiences for all learners. She also supports LAUSD educators in building leadership and cultivating learners who are ready for a growing digital world. Her work has been recognized by the Center for Digital Education and the Learning Counsel. She’s been honored as a NextGeneration Leader by EdScoop and CoSN, a 2018 Most Influential People in EdTech by Tech & Learning, an ISTE Impact Award honoree, Innovator of the Year for 2019 by Education Dive, and was recently named the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 16 Technology Administrator for 2020.

Dr. Mary Wegner is the Superintendent and Educational Leadership Coordinator for the Alaska College of Education at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, Alaska. Her work focuses on transforming the learning landscape to be relevant for today’s students and providing equity in educational opportunities through the development of principal and superintendent candidates who serve public school districts in Alaska. Mary is a strong advocate for digital-rich learning environments, as well as policies and funding that promote the value of public education to society. She is also a Trustee on the Alaska State Council on the Arts.